Pokey The Bear To Take His Place Alongside Other Famous Bears

Tourist visiting the Poconos this summer from other states will be able to take something home as a remembrance not only to the Poconos but also the state of Pennsylvania.

Thanks to SAS Design Studio in East Stroudsburg the Poconos now have a symbol that will remind people that the black bear roams the state of Pennsylvanian.

Spokeswoman Stephanie Schell has designed and produced a plush black bear by the name of "Pokey."

"When you go to New York you can take home a miniature Statue of Liberty," she said. Now visitors can take home Pokey.

Schell said, "Pokey was chosen to represent the Poconos because bears are indigenous to the area and get a lot of notoriety."

Pokey is just not a souvenir. It took over two years to create and it resembles the native Black Bear and captures the whimsy best associated with him.

Lazily relaxing backwards on his elbows, Pokey's legs stretch out in front ofhim and cross at his ankles. He is 19-inches long, has a slight grin, and his eyes are painted half-open and his ears are purposely windswept, all to give him a cool casual look of a worry free bear.

Schell said, "one feature about the bear is it is completely made in Monroe County. The B & J Toy Co., Pen Argyl, makes all the parts for Pokey. They cut the body, legs and arms and put in the stuffing and sew it up."

"The assembly of the bear is done at the Studio by local women. They hand embroi- der the facial features, toes and paws. The arms and legs are sturdily jointed with big buttons in full view on the outside."

According to Schell, the more Pokey is handled the fur will become more luxurious.

"Pokey is designed after the black bear and it looks like a real bear and not a Teddy Bear which is very important to dealers," said Schell.

What got Pokey off the ground was several requests from local businesses, in the Pocono Mountain area, to have someone create a character for the Poconos according to Schell.

You can purchases Pokey at 15 different stores through out the Poconos. It has even found a home in the Hess's Store along Hamilton Mall in Allentown.

Schell said, "Pokey has been on sale for only two months and it is really moving. We have received request for some type of expansion of the bear and we are already thinking about making a Pokey calendar and even writing paper."

Pokey recently made it into the Stroud Mall in Stroudsburg. Schell, to promote the bear, dressed up like Pokey and made her way around the Mall. "That was fun. Many people had their childrens picture taken with Pokey. You wouldn't of believed the expressions on the faces of some of the children. They seemed to be amazed to see a bear in the mall," she said.